Dental Implants

Replace missing teeth with strong dental implants at Crescent Dental, a trusted dental clinic for advanced dental care.

Book An Appointment

What are dental implants?

A dental implant is a small titanium post that your surgeon places into the jawbone to take the place of a natural tooth root. Once the bone has healed around it, a crown, a bridge or a denture is fitted on top. It is the closest dentistry gets to giving you your own tooth back, because it stands on its own and does not depend on the healthy teeth beside it.

At Crescent Dental, Maxillofacial & Orthodontic Services, implant treatment is carried out by our specialist team under the guidance of Prof. Dr. Nurul Amin, Professor of Maxillofacial Surgery, at a clinic that has been looking after patients since 1996.

Why a gap is worth filling

Once the root is gone, the bone in that area stops getting the stimulation it needs and the ridge begins to narrow, usually fastest during the first year. The teeth on either side tilt into the space, and the tooth in the opposite jaw slowly over-erupts because nothing meets it. Food starts collecting in the gap, chewing shifts to one side, and if the missing tooth is at the front, certain sounds change too. An implant is the only replacement that puts something back inside the bone, which is why it protects the ridge in a way a bridge or a denture cannot.

Are you suitable?

Most healthy adults are. At your consultation we check how much bone you have at the site, clinically and on X-ray, and whether your gums are healthy, because active gum disease has to be treated first. Implants are placed once facial growth is complete, so they are not planned for teenagers, but there is no upper age limit.

Tell us about every medical condition and every medicine you take, including bone medicines and blood thinners. Diabetes is not a barrier when it is well controlled, though poorly controlled blood sugar slows healing. Smoking, paan and gutkha work against healing in the same way, and cutting down before surgery genuinely changes the result. If an implant is not right for you, we will say so and go through the alternatives.

What we can replace

A single missing tooth needs one implant and one crown, and the teeth on either side are left untouched. For several missing teeth, two or more implants can carry a bridge, so you do not need one implant per tooth. When a whole jaw is empty, a small number of implants can anchor a full denture and stop it lifting and slipping, which for long-term denture wearers is often the biggest change in daily comfort.

What treatment involves

Consultation, Examination of the gap, the surrounding teeth and your bite, with X-rays taken here at the clinic.
Planning, We agree how many implants are needed, where they will sit, whether grafting is required, and what the final tooth will look like.
Placement, Done under local anaesthesia, so the area is completely numb. The fixture is placed into the bone and the site is closed with stitches.
Healing, The bone needs about three to six months to fuse to the implant, a process called osseointegration. A temporary tooth can be provided where appropriate.
Fitting, The abutment is connected, an impression is taken, and the final crown, bridge or denture is tried in, adjusted and fitted.

Where the ridge has become too narrow or too short, bone grafting can build it up first, and in the upper back jaw a sinus lift can create the height a fixture needs. This adds time to the plan, and we will explain why before you commit to anything.

Recovery and aftercare

The surgery is not painful, since the site is fully numb. Expect some soreness and swelling for a few days afterwards, which is normal healing. During that first week:

Take the prescribed medicines and finish any antibiotic course.
Use a cold compress on the face on the first day.
Keep to soft, lukewarm food and chew on the other side.
Start warm salt water rinses from the second day, and keep brushing the rest of your mouth.
Avoid smoking, paan and zarda completely.

Call us if bleeding does not settle, if pain or swelling increases after the third day, or if you develop a fever.

An implant cannot decay, but the gum and bone around it can become inflamed, a condition called peri-implantitis. Brushing twice daily, cleaning between the teeth every day and keeping your check-up appointments are what make an implant last.

Common questions

How long does the whole treatment take?
Usually three to six months, because the bone needs that time to fuse to the implant before the final tooth is fitted. Cases needing bone grafting take longer.

Is the surgery painful?
No. The site is numbed with local anaesthesia, so you feel pressure rather than pain. Soreness for a few days afterwards is normal and manageable with the medication we prescribe.

Can I have an implant if I am diabetic?
Usually yes, as long as your blood sugar is well controlled, since uncontrolled diabetes slows healing and raises the risk of failure.

What if I have already lost bone at the site?
Bone grafting or a sinus lift can often rebuild it so an implant becomes possible. We assess this with an X-ray at your consultation.

How long do implants last?
They are designed as a long-term solution and can serve for many years, depending on your oral hygiene, whether you smoke, and whether you keep up maintenance visits.

Do I need one implant for every missing tooth?
No. Two or more implants can support a bridge across several teeth, and a full arch can be restored on a limited number of implants.